A felon is behind bars again after Clearwater police found an assault rifle and two loaded magazines in his car Thursday night, a spokeswoman said. Officers noticed a suspicious vehicle in the 1500 block of Harbor Drive just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday, police spokeswoman Joelle Castelli said. The 2009 Hyundai Sonata had a Maryland tag and pulled into the driveway of an abandoned home that was clearly marked with a no trespassing sign, Castelli said. Officers asked to search the car, and the driver consented. Inside the trunk were two magazines with 33 .762-caliber rounds in one and 19 .762-caliber rounds in the other, four additional rounds and an assault rifle. Officers also seized $2,744 in cash. All four men in the car were felons. Police arrested one of them, Herman J. Williams, on a charge related to being a felon in possession of a firearm. "Through the detectives' investigation, they came to the conclusion that only the driver had the knowledge and the access to the gun in the trunk," Castelli said. Williams, 26, of Tampa was in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Bestselling writer to help program

Kick off the Clearwater Library System's adult summer reading program with a visit from bestselling mystery author James Grippando at East Branch Library at 2 p.m. June 1. The author of 17 novels, including the critically acclaimed "Jack Swyteck" series, Grippando writes thrillers that could be drawn from today's headlines. A book signing will conclude the presentation. For more information on the author, visit www.jamesgrippando.com. The library is at 2251 Drew St. For more information, go to www.myclearwater.com/cpl or call (727) 562-4970.

Work to shut down lane on Gulf-to-Bay

One eastbound lane of Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard from Coachman Road to Park Place will be closed until Nov. 17. The two other eastbound lanes there will remain open to traffic. This is part of the Florida Department of Transportation's ongoing improvements to U.S. 19.

Tarpon Springs

Shepherd Center earns recognition

The Shepherd Center in Tarpon Springs has received the Community Service and Leadership Award from the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless. The community service and leadership award is given to an individual, an organization, an elected official or a government entity in recognition of outstanding communitywide service and leadership that goes above and beyond the expected, and whose efforts have benefited the homeless in Pinellas County over time.